Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-11-20

that he could only offer the lady the choice
Of one other bed-chamber numbered Thirty.
eight, and situated immediately over the
bed-chamber which she desired to leave.
Mrs. Norbury accepted the proposed
change of quarters. She was now about
10 pass her second night in the old days Of
the palace by Baron Rivar.
Once more she fell asleep as usual. And
once more the frightful dreams of the frs,
night terrified her, following each other in
the same succession. This time her nerves,
already shaken, were not equal to the re-
Dewed torture of terror inflicted on them.
She threw on her dressing gown and rushed
out of her room in the middle of the night.
The porter, alarmed by the banging of the
door, met her hurrying headlong down the
stairs IN search of the first human being
she could find to keep her company. Con-
siderably surprised at this last manifesto
ton Of the famous English eccentricity, ~
the man looked at the hotel register and
led the lady upstairs again to the room oc-
cupied by her maid. The maid was not
asleep, and more wonderful still, was not
even undressed. She received her mistress
quietly. When they were alone. and
when Mrs. Norbury had, as a matter OF
necessity, taken her attendant into her
confidence, the woman made very strange
reply.
y have been asking about the hotel at
the servants supper tonight" she said.
"The valet of one of the gentlemen staying
here has heard that the late Lord Mont
harry was the last person who lived in the
palace before it was made into \ hotel.
The room he died in, ma'aH, was the room
YOU slept in last night. Your room to-
night is the room just above it. l said
nothing for fear of frightening you. For
my own part, l have passed the night as
you see, keeping my light in and reading
my Bible. In my opinion no member Of
your family can hope to be happy or COM
fortable in this house"
What do you mean?"
"Please to let me explain myself, ma'am.
When Mr.. Henry Westwick was here
have this from the valet, tOo-he occupied
the room his brother died in-withOut
knowing it--like you. For two nights be
never closed his eyes. Without any rea-
son for 1.-THE valet heard him tell the
gentlemen in the coffee rOom-he could not
| sleep; he felt so low and so wretched in
himself. And, what is more, when day
time came, he couldn't even eat while he
WAS under this roof. You may laugh at
me. ma'am-but even a servant may draw
her own conclusions. It's my conclusion
that something happened TO my lord,
which we lone of us know about, when be
died in this house. His ghost walks in
torment until he can tell it! The living
persons related to him are the persons who
feel he is near them-the persons who may
yet see him in the time to come. Don't,
pray don't stay any longer in this dreadful
place! | wouldn't stay another night here
myself-no, not for anything that could be
offered men'
Mrs. Norbury at once set her servants
mind at ease on this last point.
81 don't think about it as you do" she
said, gravelv. But | should like to
speak to my brother of what has happened,
We will 20 back to Milan"
Some bOurs necessarily elapsed before
they could leave the hotel by the first
train in the forenoon.
In that interval Mrs. Norbury's maid
found an opportunity of contidentially in
forming the valet of what had passed be.
tween her mistress and herself. The valet
had ether friends TO whom he related the
circumstances in his turn. In due course
of time the narrative, passing from
mouth to mouth, reached the ears
of the manager. He instantly saw
that the credit of the hotel was in
danger unless something was done 10 re-
trieve the character of the room numbered
Fourteen. English travellers, well ~aCquain.
ted with the peeTage of their native conn.
try, informed him that Henry WestwicR
and Mrs. NUrbury were By no means tbs
only meu,bers of the Montbarry family,
Curiosity might bring more of them to the
hotel after hearing what had happened
The managers ingenuity easily hit on the
obvious means OF misleading them in this
case. The numbers of all the rooms were
enamelei in blue ON white china plates,
screwed to the doors. He ordered a new
plate to be prepared, bearing the number
"l3A," and he kept the room empty,
after its tenant for the time being had
gone away, until the plate
was ready. He then renum
bered the ROOM, placing the removed Num-
Der Fourteen on the door of his own room
ION the second floor which, not being tC
let, had not previously been numbered al
all. BY this device Number Fourteen dis
appeared at once and forever from the
books of the hotel as the number OF a bed
room to let.
Having warned the servants to beware Of
gossjping with travellers on the subject oI
the changed numbers, under penalty of be
ing dismissed, the manager composed hi;
mind with the reflection that he had done
his duty to his employers. Now" hi
thought to himself, with an eXcusabl,
sense of triumph, "let the the whole
family come here, if they like! The hOte
is a match for them"
TO BE CONTINUED.